Todt and Yeoh, who also serves as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, were in Rwanda to attend the Kwita Izina, baby gorilla naming ceremony held in Musanze District on September 5, 2025.
Jean Todt, a French national, is a veteran of motorsport and served as President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) from 2009 to 2021. He is best remembered as Ferrari’s legendary team principal during the team’s golden era, when Michael Schumacher won multiple Formula One titles. He has been the UN Special Envoy for Road Safety since April 2015, appointed under then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Michelle Yeoh, his wife, is a Malaysian-born actress acclaimed for her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, Crazy Rich Asians, and Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won her an Academy Award in 2023.
She is celebrated as a trailblazer for Asian actors in Hollywood and has also been recognized as one of the world’s most influential voices.
During the Kwita Izina ceremony, Todt named a baby gorilla “Ruvugiro”, while Yeoh chose the name “Rwogere.”
Later on September 6, 2025, Todt and Yeoh also participated in a road safety activity at the Gishushu junction in Gasabo District, where they helped mark pedestrian lines.
Todt emphasized the importance of such measures, noting that road markings play a vital role in reducing traffic accidents.
On the same day, President Kagame received Mathieu Flamini, Arsenal Legend and co-founder and CEO of GFBiochemicals, who visited Rwanda to participate in the baby gorilla naming ceremony.
GFBiochemicals is a world pioneer in producing high-performing renewable alternatives to harmful petrochemical ingredients.
The Head of State also met with a delegation from Marriott, led by David S. Marriott, Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, who named a baby gorilla during the 20th Kwita Izina ceremony.
Lawyers for the authors hailed the deal as unprecedented. Justin Nelson, one of the lead attorneys, said: “As best as we can tell, it’s the largest copyright recovery ever, and the first of its kind in the AI era.”
The lawsuit alleged that Anthropic downloaded nearly 500,000 copyrighted works without permission, many from shadow libraries such as LibGen, to train Claude. The plaintiffs included well-known writers like Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson.
In June, a federal judge ruled that while training AI models on copyrighted text could, under some circumstances, qualify as “fair use,” the act of obtaining pirated copies remained illegal. That ruling opened the door for the authors’ case to move forward, according to court records cited by AP.
Facing the possibility of billions in damages at trial this December, Anthropic opted to settle. Aparna Sridhar, the company’s deputy general counsel, said in a statement: “This agreement resolves the legacy claims brought by the plaintiffs. We remain committed to building safe AI systems that benefit society.”
The settlement requires Anthropic not only to compensate authors but also to destroy the pirated datasets it had acquired.
The case is being closely watched across the tech sector. Dozens of AI developers, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta, face similar lawsuits over the use of copyrighted material to train large language models.
Trump told reporters: “I stand with Bobby. He’s not afraid to challenge the establishment. He means well, and he’s doing what he believes is right for the American people.”
Kennedy, a longtime critic of vaccines, has taken sweeping steps since assuming office. His policies have included cutting funding for vaccine research, restricting access to COVID-19 vaccines, and dismissing top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Appearing before the Senate, Kennedy defended his measures. “For too long, our agencies have been captured by pharmaceutical interests,” he said. “My mission is to restore transparency and give Americans the freedom to make their own choices.”
Kennedy’s agenda has triggered dissent from within his own family. In a public statement, relatives including Joe Kennedy III and Kerry Kennedy urged him to resign.
“We love Bobby, but we cannot support policies that put public health at risk. His leadership is fostering confusion and weakening trust in science,” they said according tp reuters.
Public health experts also warn that Kennedy’s actions could reverse decades of progress. A former CDC official said: “Dismantling vaccine research and replacing experts with loyalists is a recipe for disaster. We risk losing decades of progress in immunization.”
Despite the backlash, Trump has continued to praise his health secretary. “He’s tough. He’s independent. And he’s not afraid to speak the truth,” the president said.
Kennedy, for his part, has vowed to stay the course. “This is not about politics,” he said. “This is about the health and freedom of Americans.”
Putin made the declaration at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Friday.
His remarks came just a day after European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine, with France’s President Emmanuel Macron announcing that 26 countries are ready to contribute troops or security support once a ceasefire is achieved.
Addressing delegates, Putin was unequivocal. “If foreign troops appear on Ukrainian territory during the fighting, they will be legitimate targets for our forces. And even after peace, we see no reason for their presence,” he said.
The Kremlin leader argued that outside military involvement would only escalate tensions and undermine future stability. According to Russian officials, Moscow does not view such deployments as peacekeeping but as hostile participation in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed allied commitments, insisting that international backing is essential for his country’s survival.
“Ukraine will have security on land, at sea, and in the air. These guarantees are vital for our people and for peace in the region,” he said following consultations with European leaders.
According to Zelenskyy, the multinational effort would not only deter further Russian aggression but also create the conditions for long-term peace and stability in Eastern Europe.
Their reaction came after the Burundi Youth Forum in the Diaspora, Rwanda chapter, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
The youth leaders explained that the visit aimed at learning from Rwanda’s history, which culminated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, to ensure such atrocities never happen again either in Rwanda or across the region.
After learning how the genocide unfolded with neighbors killing neighbors, and Christians murdering fellow worshippers because they were Tutsi — the Forum’s president, Bizoza Deo, said they are committed to fighting against ethnic division and hatred.
“Looking at what happened in our country and the Genocide against the Tutsi, we saw that it all begins with ideology. To heal from these problems, we must first cure the minds — change the dangerous thinking that leads to division and ultimately genocide. That is why we came here to learn more,” he said.
He emphasized that the current crisis in eastern DRC proves that genocide ideology is still alive in the region, even 31 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi.
What he found most troubling, he said, is that some heads of state openly support armed campaigns aimed at killing their own citizens simply because they are Tutsi.
He stressed that the deployment of Burundian troops alongside the FDLR in eastern DRC is evidence that genocide ideology persists even within Burundi’s top leadership.
“Looking at what is happening in Congo, you can see that Burundi is actively involved. Sometimes they do not even hide it — they publicly support killings. The victims are once again targeted because they are Tutsi. The real problem is the ideology of discrimination and division that lives in the minds of leaders. This ideology is also in DRC and Burundi,” he added.
His colleague, Nsabyumuremyi Oscar, said the collaboration between Burundi’s army and the FDLR shows that ethnic discrimination continues to be nurtured in Burundi.
“This shows that Burundi is siding with the perpetrators of the Genocide. That is unacceptable because they know exactly where ethnic division leads a country. Aligning with those who practice ethnic hatred is very dangerous and puts our country at risk,” he said.
He called for unity, saying that no one chooses their ethnicity, place of birth, or community, and that all citizens should live together peacefully.
Havyarimana Audace also raised alarm over the spread of genocide ideology in the region.
“This is deeply frightening. It means genocide ideology is crossing borders. From what we’ve seen here, the Genocide against the Tutsi was planned by governments. Now, Congolese Tutsi are being killed because they are considered Rwandans, which makes it clear that genocide is being carried out there,” he said.
He added that it is disturbing to see countries like Burundi working with the DRC to exterminate their own citizens under the pretext of fighting the AFC/M23 movement — a Congolese coalition that has been demanding an end to discrimination and seeking to restore peace and stability.
He lamented that Burundi’s army is siding with the FDLR, a group responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, thus helping to spread and implement genocide ideology in eastern DRC.
“What is most alarming is that those leading this campaign are genocide perpetrators who crossed into Congo with the same ideology and are now spreading it to Congolese Tutsi — with Burundians helping them. It is shameful and incomprehensible to see Burundi supporting such actions, even to the point of backing another country in killing its own citizens,” he said.
The Burundians called on President Évariste Ndayishimiye to change course, prioritize the interests of his nation over personal ambitions, and withdraw Burundian troops from DRC.
The designated humanitarian zone was set in Khan Younis, “in light of the expansion of the ground operation in Gaza City and the takeover of Hamas strongholds as part of Operation Gideon’s Chariots II,” an IDF statement read.
The IDF said that the newly designated area contains key humanitarian infrastructure, including field hospitals, water pipelines and desalination facilities, while also ensuring the continued delivery of food, tents, medicines and medical equipment.
IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee called on Gaza City residents in a social media post to seize the opportunity and move to the humanitarian zone early.
The Israeli army emphasized that humanitarian aid to the area and adjustments to its infrastructure will continue on an ongoing basis in coordination with the United Nations and international organizations, alongside the expansion of the ground operation.
Since the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and led to about 250 hostages being taken, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians and wounded 161,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
From Monday to Friday, courts publicly display the names of defendants scheduled to appear, whether in custody or released, depending on the judge’s decision or the nature of the charges.
The general principle of justice is that suspects should stand trial without being held in detention.
However, in the 2024/25 judicial year, pre-trial detention and bail cases were significant. Courts handled 16,310 such cases involving 21,855 individuals.
Of these, judges ordered 10,358 to remain in pre-trial detention, while 6,490 were released on bail. Additionally, 1,539 individuals had their detention extended, 139 were subjected to specific judicial measures, and six were determined to have been unlawfully detained.
By the end of the judicial year 2024/25, which closed in June 2025, Rwandan courts had received over 106,000 cases, of which 74,835 — representing 70% — were criminal cases.
A report released on September 1, 2025, shows that theft was the most common crime handled by the courts, appearing in 13,956 cases. It was followed by assault and battery with 10,948 cases.
Another highly reported crime was child defilement, with 6,124 cases, while drug-related offenses appeared in 5,590 files, and the use of weapons or threats appeared in 3,194.
Other frequently prosecuted crimes included fraud (2,649 cases), unintentional bodily harm (2,497 cases), domestic violence (2,034 cases), homicide (1,780 cases), and obtaining another person’s property by deception (1,659 cases).
{{Why do some crimes remain dominant?}}
For more than five years, these ten categories of crime have consistently topped Rwanda’s criminal court dockets.
According to lawyer Ibambe Jean Paul of H-I Lex Partners, some crimes are interconnected in ways that make offenders likely to commit several of them.
“Take drug abuse, for instance. Once a person is under the influence, they are highly likely to engage in other crimes. They are the ones who fight, who assault and injure others, and may end up committing sexual offenses such as defilement. No person in a sound state of mind would simply decide to commit such acts. This is not unique to Rwanda — it’s the same everywhere.” he explained.
He further noted that those who commit armed robbery are often the same who use intimidation to achieve their criminal goals.
Lawyer Ibambe added that the apparent rise in certain crimes does not always mean society is becoming more criminal, but rather that law enforcement has improved its capacity to detect and prosecute them.
“Sometimes it doesn’t mean that crimes are increasing in number. What increases is citizens’ awareness about elements constituting a crime and their willingness to report it. Authorities have also enhanced their ability to detect even cases that might otherwise remain hidden. In some instances, the figures rise, but that’s also because investigative and prosecutorial capacity has expanded,” he explained
{{The prosecution’s record}}
The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) reported that in 2024/25 it received 78,489 case files, processing more than 75,000. Out of these, 42,279 were taken to court while 33,453 were archived.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, prosecutors litigated 42,378 cases, winning 39,498 — a success rate of 93.2%.
In specific crimes such as child defilement, prosecutors won 74% of cases compared to 65% in the previous year.
Prosecutor General Angelique Habyarimana recently said that the institution had intensified its focus on handling sexual offenses against children, aiming for their complete eradication.
“We have increased efforts in processing cases of child defilement, domestic violence, and sexual assault,” she said.
In these three categories combined, prosecutors received 8,169 files, processed 7,780 (95%), and secured convictions in 83% of cases.
{{Youth remain a key concern}}
Data shows that the majority of prisoners in Rwanda are young people, most of them convicted of drug abuse, theft, and related crimes.
“Globally, crimes like drug use and petty theft are most prevalent among youth. Once someone abuses drugs, they may fight without reason, act irrationally, and eventually get trapped in crime,” Lawyer Ibambe emphasized.
He also highlighted the risks posed by idleness: “Young people who spend their days idle are more likely to drift into crime. The solution lies in keeping them engaged — some in schools, others in work opportunities. When they lack jobs or prospects, they are vulnerable to substance abuse and, eventually, criminal behavior.”
Residents reported intense shooting in the city, near Lake Tanganyika, from around 8 p.m. on September 5, 2025. The clashes involved AK-47 rifles and machine guns.
Sources indicate that the Wazalendo fighters engaged in the shootout with FARDC were members of a unit led by “General” John Makanaki, which has long been active in South Kivu.
Since September 2, 2025, Wazalendo fighters have staged major demonstrations in Uvira, demanding the removal of Brig Gen Olivier Gasita, a FARDC officer whom they accuse of being Rwandan. Their suspicions are based on his identity as a Munyamulenge, an ethnic minority group in eastern DRC.
The unrest has paralyzed life in the city. Wazalendo closed the main highway, disrupted economic activities, and vowed to continue until Brig Gen Gasita was removed from Uvira.
On September 5, 2025, Uvira’s interim mayor, Kifara Kapenda Kik’v, convened a meeting aimed at defusing tensions. It was attended by Wazalendo leaders, including Makanaki and “General” William Amuri Yakutumba. However, the talks failed, and protests continued.
Yakutumba insisted that Brig Gen Gasita must leave Uvira. Makanaki warned that if the general had not departed by September 8, his fighters would shut down the DRC–Burundi border and block the port of Uvira on Lake Tanganyika.
Yakutumba firmly stated during the tense meeting, “We do not want the commander sent here, Gen Gasita, in Uvira.”
The FARDC spokesperson, Maj Gen Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa, had earlier urged Wazalendo to accept Brig Gen Gasita, stressing that the General appointed by the head of state had never betrayed the country.
He also said the United States will host next year’s G20 at his golf club, Trump National Doral, near Miami.
“It’s right next to the airport. It’s the best location. It’s beautiful,” he told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that his family business “will not make any money on it.”
During his first term in 2019, Trump abandoned a plan to use his Doral resort as the host site for the G7 summit in 2020, following bipartisan criticism that it could benefit him financially and violate the Constitution.
A total of 1,631 suspected cases have been recorded.
The statement said the data was reported during a meeting chaired by Public Health Minister Abdelmadjid Abderahim to discuss strategies to prevent the disease from spreading.
Chad has received 1,120,295 doses of cholera vaccine, the statement said, adding that the vaccines are being deployed to the eastern area for a vaccination campaign.
The government has urged Chadians to strictly follow hygiene measures to help curb the spread of infections.
The first cholera case was detected in the Dougui refugee camp in the eastern Ouaddai region on July 13. The camp hosts approximately 20,000 Sudanese refugees.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned in early September that cholera remains the major public health concern in Africa in terms of the number of cases and fatalities.
Some 23 cholera-affected African countries have reported a total of 239,754 cases and over 5,274 related deaths since the beginning of this year, data showed.
